After food poisoning, schools called upon to directly manage cafeterias

Students at Joongang Girl's Middle School are eating home-made lunches on June 23 as school cafeterias were ordered to close after the food poisoning incident occurred. Kim Chyung-hyo.

Large food service firms remove responsibility from schools, critics say

Nationwide, 15 percent of primary and secondary school cafeterias are managed by subcontractors, but in metropolitan areas the figure increases to 50 percent. In the wake of a massive food poisoning outbreak in Seoul, teachers and parent organizations are urging schools to manage their food programs directly.

Currently, only 5 percent of middle and high schools nationwide manage cafeterias directly.

The teachers and parent groups noted that principals opposed to putting school cafeterias under direct school management are a hindrance to solving the problem.

Many principals cite the inability of schools to assume direct liability for any incident. If food distributors provide school lunches, the firms must assume responsibility. In the case of the most recent outbreak, which affected over 1,000 students, CJ Food System is currently under investigation.

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources agreed with calls from the parent organizations and other civic groups, urging the schools to put their cafeterias under direct management, but in many cases, schools have ignored the ministry's advice.

Critics say principals receive kickbacks for hiring large firms to handle their schools' food service contracts.

The concern is budgetary, other critics say. Lee Bin-pa, representative of Geubsik, an organization formed by civic activists and agricultural industry lobby groups, said, "When schools directly manage the cafeterias, more money is needed than when subcontractors manage them."

Another reason principals balk at reforming the school lunch system is that they are held directly accountable if an incident should occur. Under current law, this can result in the principal being fined up to 3 million won (3,000 USD). Civic groups called for the revision of this policy.

Criticism has been raised over the so-called lukewarm attitude of the Seoul school office over improving the school lunch system. Civic groups will hold a rally in front of the office and urge Gong Jeong-taek, superintendent of education affairs, to push through changes.